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God of the Battlefield: Part 2 - Page 13

Forum Index > Final Edits
362 CommentsPost a Reply
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Read Part 1


Before we released God of the Battlefield: Part 1, we wondered if it was a wise decision. While no one could question the quality of the article Ver had written, we had to consider the risk of glorifying one of the most loathsome individuals in e-Sports history by releasing an article focused on only his positive aspects.

Thankfully, most of our readers reacted to Part 1 in an intelligent, discerning manner, and were capable of keeping Savior's in-game brilliance in perspective with his out-of-game crimes. While match-fixing still hurts Brood War to this day, and some shameless Savior apologists remain, we believe the majority of our readers are mature enough to appreciate Ver's work in in an appropriate way.

During 2006-2007, Ma Jae Yoon (aka Savior) was the best Brood War player in the world. Not only did he win multiple championships, but he dominated his opposition in a way that had never been seen for the Zerg race. His play captivated the hearts of countless fans, and even the staunchest critics were forced to admit that he was one of the greatest of all time.

His career began on a sharp decline in March 2007, after a loss to Kim Taek Yong (Bisu) in the MSL Final. Though he would retain the loyalty and support of many fans - and occasionally show them flashes of his past brilliance - he would never challenge for a title again.

In 2010, Savior was implicated in one of the most devastating events in e-Sports history, the pro-gamer match fixing scandal. Nearly a dozen progamers had received bribes to intentionally lose their matches, which were bet upon by a handful of shady parties on illegal e-Sports gambling websites. Korean courts found Savior guilty of being a broker, a middle-man between the gamblers and the bribed progamers, though it is suspected that he may have been more directly involved as well.

Savior was sentenced to one year in prison (this sentence has been suspended for 2 years; sentencing occurred in May 2010). Furthermore, all of the progamers implicated were given life-time competition bans by KeSPA (the governing body for BW e-Sports in Korea). GomTV has stated that the banned players are also barred from competing in their StarCraft II leagues.

Though Savior seriously undermined the institution of e-Sports through his despicable crimes, it is possible to separate his faults as a human being from his accomplishments as a player. Though he was rightfully banned from playing the game that brought him fame and fortune, it is undeniable that he was one of the most brilliant RTS players in history, and that he left a significant, lasting mark on the way the Brood War is played.


- Waxangel
JMave
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Singapore1806 Posts
March 28 2013 03:31 GMT
#241
i was actually talking to myself yesterday just as I got back back home from school that i missed broodwar and all the tournaments and stuff. so its actually really delightful to have part 2 released for me! best thing that has happened to me all week!
火心 Jealous. I always loved that feeling when I was young. Embrace it.
Amui
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada10567 Posts
March 28 2013 03:33 GMT
#242
I remember when I joined TL, the first part of this article came out not long after, and inspired me to read the rest of the final edits. Absolutely loved it, and this one is no exception.
Porouscloud - NA LoL
vitruvia
Profile Joined June 2009
Canada235 Posts
March 28 2013 03:49 GMT
#243
Waxangel might have said some necessary things in that mod edit, we can't get too political here at teamliquid.
what quote?
BronzeKnee
Profile Joined March 2011
United States5221 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-03-28 03:56:53
March 28 2013 03:55 GMT
#244
That was a really neat article. I'm a big believer that Starcraft is much more of a game of strategy than mechanics, and that rings especially true with my mechanics not being so hot, yet I've been able to take games off some really good players. While I had no idea who Savior was before this point, it seems his play reflected this idea.

It is also interesting me the title wins by race. It reminds me so much of SC2, particularly since Terran has the most overall, and Protoss is last. Seems like the more things that change, the more stay the same...
traceurling
Profile Joined December 2012
United States1240 Posts
March 28 2013 04:02 GMT
#245
YES THANK YOU SO MUCH :D
"Appreciate the things you have before they become the things you had."
NotJumperer
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States1371 Posts
March 28 2013 04:08 GMT
#246
--- Nuked ---
Hyde
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Australia14568 Posts
March 28 2013 04:12 GMT
#247
Amazing article. Paints such a clear picture of just how much a badass Savior was in his heyday.
Because when you left, Brood War was all spotlights and titans. Now, with the death of the big leagues, Brood War has moved to the basements and carparks. Now, Brood War is unlicensed brawls, lost teeth, and bloody fights for fistfulls of money - SirJolt
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19366 Posts
March 28 2013 04:20 GMT
#248
I've been craving for this article thank you!!!!!!!

I found it super interesting that he practiced with Terran to get better at ZvT. Savior is brilliant.
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
joohyunee
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
Korea (South)1087 Posts
March 28 2013 04:42 GMT
#249
I really enjoyed the ending remarks, sums up my feelings about sAviOr so well. HE was the one who got me into progaming. HE was the one that inspired the term BONJWA in the first place. HE was untouchable in no way that Flash/JD/Bisu ever was. It's true, his mechanics are horrible. I think he had something like 240ish apm at this peak vs people like NADA who consistently hit 400+ in games..

Also, I'm really honored for a piece of translation I did years ago reappear like this, never would've thought it'd be featured as news in this way. hahah

Sad that I don't follow progaming as much after the match fixing scandal - when the sAviOr of zerg died, so did my love for progaming...
Spacekyod
Profile Joined December 2010
United States818 Posts
March 28 2013 04:47 GMT
#250
I can't believe i read the whole thing. So much strategy and tactics involved, really simple things that i already know but just don't do. And i say to myself, this is so simple and easy, why don't i do it. Then i realize i can't macro and micro that well, and my own strategical genius wilts away. LOL. While reading this, it's made me wonder how many progamers have done a bit of reading up on historical wars, and mimicked tactics used in those battles.
Riders of the Plastic Groove. "When all-in fails, all-in again!" Finally... Make way for the real DONG!
Beezleking
Profile Joined November 2011
Canada91 Posts
March 28 2013 04:55 GMT
#251
Im so glad this is out finally! Will be an amazing read :D
i.of.the.storm
Profile Joined April 2009
United States795 Posts
March 28 2013 05:00 GMT
#252
Wow amazing analysis, I read like halfway through and skipped to the end. As someone who only saw Savior after his peak it's very elucidating to understand why he was considered so good. Even then I was impressed by his charisma as one of the first people I saw who really acted the part of a champion, even if he was past his prime (I will destroy everyone in 2009..). And I kind of wish Blizzard had put lurkers into HotS instead of Swarm Hosts. The thing is that you might think that swarm hosts can control space just as well as lurkers, but that's not the case at all because they don't have the burst damage output to really punish a bad move out. Also, lurkers have the tactical ability of holding fire for the right moment, whereas with Swarm hosts you have no incentive to do so. But I guess burrowed banelings should be filling that role, and I think it's a little surprising that even after almost 3 years of SC2 they're not that common.

I wonder how many progamers these days offrace, I know quite a few do so when streaming to hide their true skill, but I doubt anyone offraces more than their main race. It's really cool to see how Savior got into his opponent's head with such great effect. It's a damn shame he did what he did, and I can't forgive him for the damage he caused to the scene in Korea, but I can't not respect his sheer intelligence. Maestro
Maru - The Terran hope is alive!
APerfectDay
Profile Joined March 2013
11 Posts
March 28 2013 05:16 GMT
#253
--- Nuked ---
Arachne
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
South Africa426 Posts
March 28 2013 05:20 GMT
#254
Not going to lie, been waiting a long time for this. Will read it just now. Glad it came before I died. loved the other one, and I didn't even watch BW.
If I were a rich man, I wouldn't be here
lxginverse
Profile Joined May 2008
Monaco1506 Posts
March 28 2013 05:25 GMT
#255
hell, its about time
fromis_9 enjoyer
Velinath
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States694 Posts
March 28 2013 05:31 GMT
#256
That was such an amazing read (just like Part 1). Thanks for the article; I really enjoyed it.

I know others have asked this in thread, but I didn't see an answer. I'm really interested to know if any modern-day progamers do significant offracing to prepare for opponents or to discover timings like Savior did.
King K. Rool
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada4408 Posts
March 28 2013 05:37 GMT
#257
ah brings a tear to my eye.

so bittersweet reading about savior

great writing and even better analysis.
Epoxide
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Magic Woods9326 Posts
March 28 2013 05:40 GMT
#258
On March 28 2013 09:45 Sum41 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 28 2013 09:33 Pufftrees wrote:
I really love Savior, one of my cherished memories was meeting him at Blizzcon 08'.

I was outside the hilton the day before it started, doing pre-registration shit and the fucking BUS pulls up and effort/skyhigh/Savior and others start pooring out. I was like OMFG, hello WELCOME haha. Told them I was big fan and introduced myself to everyone... I was the first crazy white person they met lol.

It was nice of them to come hang out with the TL crew during the OSL finals also.

Anyways, fuck the haters. Ma Jae Yoon for life....

i agree with you, Savior was a great player, i think it's wrong from TL to almost ban the word Savior in any thread or something like that, now we can't even watch re streams of him on TL. i hope they change their decision, Savior has apologized of his terrible mistake, it don't hurt e-sport to show games of him or making thread about him. TL has put so much hate on Savior that many were influenced by them to hate on Savior(that's why i think, and believe). I hope they stop that kind of behavior towards Savior, because it's even Childish

He never apologized. Fucking scum.
LiquipediaSouma: EU MM is just Russian Roulette. Literally.
Elroi
Profile Joined August 2009
Sweden5600 Posts
March 28 2013 06:01 GMT
#259
Holy shiiiiit! This is going to be so awesome to read to night.
"To all eSports fans, I want to be remembered as a progamer who can make something out of nothing, and someone who always does his best. I think that is the right way of living, and I'm always doing my best to follow that." - Jaedong. /watch?v=jfghAzJqAp0
Lovedoll
Profile Joined November 2011
Japan540 Posts
March 28 2013 06:03 GMT
#260
Terrific article, easily one of the best I've ever read on this site.

As someone who never got into professional Brood War, I never knew Savior more than the player who was guilty for match-fixing. I didn't know that he was responsible for single-handedly changed the zerg meta game.
Spread your eggs until they crack!
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